Technology is part of our everyday lives and understanding how to function in environments that require the use of computers and the Internet is more critical now than ever before. UNESCO defines digital skills as a range of abilities to use digital devices, communication applications, and networks to access and manage information. While younger workers are better educated than they used to be, they lack practical skills, especially digital skills, which are in high demand and ever-changing.
Whether your students plan to pursue a career in IT, or simply become more effective with technology, IC3 Digital Literacy Certification is the place to start. Learn more about the IC3 Digital Literacy program and how it can benefit your students.
What is the IC3 Digital Literacy certification?
IC3 Digital Literacy Global Standard Six (GS6) is the latest version of the IC3 Digital Literacy program. This program has been restructured to address current computing concepts, including cloud and mobile technologies; to align closely with educational requirements and ensure learners of all ages can validate their understanding of Digital Literacy. IC3 Digital Literacy allows candidates to demonstrate their ability to select and use the appropriate research, productivity, collaboration, and communications tools, to find reliable information, create content, communicate safely, and identify credibility and bias in modern digital environments.
The new structure is a comprehensive set of stackable certifications across seven digital literacy domains. It is composed of three exams, each awarding its own certificate, that validate an understanding of each domain at the basic, intermediate, and advanced levels.
- Level 1 measures knowledge of fundamental concepts and essential components.
- Level 2 requires a working knowledge of each of the seven skill groups.
- Level 3 validates an advanced understanding of digital literacy and indicates that the candidate has the technical foundation needed to advance successfully along their educational and employment paths and support the development of more specialized technological skills.
When a candidate successfully passes all three Global Standard Six certification exams, they are awarded the IC3 Digital Literacy Master Certification and a Master Badge which display an advanced understanding of the concepts and principles within the IC3 Digital Literacy program objective domains.
Why create the IC3 Digital Literacy certification?
Digital literacy is critical to be able to use technology, find information, create content, and communicate safely in our modern digital world. By building digital literacy skills and understanding, students are safer online, can use technology effectively, and build the skills they need to succeed in today’s workforce. IC3 Digital Literacy certification is the first step to validating and gaining these valuable skills.
What topics are covered in the IC3 Digital Literacy certification exam?
As mentioned above, the IC3 Digital Literacy Global Standards Six certification program is broken down into three levels. Each level covers various topics.
Level 1
- Technology Basics
- Access and navigate between digital environments
- Identify digital devices and connections
- Explain fundamental software concepts
- Explain fundamental hardware concepts
- Explain fundamental operating system concepts
- Explain fundamental networking concepts
- Digital Citizenship
- Create and manage a digital identify
- Cultivate, manage, and protect your digital reputation
- Respond to inappropriate digital behavior and content
- Information Management
- Use and refine criteria for online searches
- Understand methods for searching within digital content
- Understand copyright and licensing restrictions for digital content
- Content Creation
- Create basic documents and presentations
- Understand accepted referencing and attribution practices
- Save and back up work
- Understand fundamental printing concepts
- Communication
- Express yourself through digital means
- Interact with others in a digital environment
- Collaboration
- Identify digital collaboration concepts
- Identify digital etiquette standards for collaborative processes
- Safety and Security
- Describe digital security threats
- Protect devices and digital content
- Be aware of data-collection technology
- Identify health risks associated with use of digital technologies
Level 2
- Technology Basics
- Customize digital environments
- Use a personal digital calendar
- Define higher-level technology concepts
- Identify and explain common hardware adjustments
- Explain core printer concepts
- Identify digital devices and connections
- Digital Citizenship
- Create and manage multiple digital identities
- Apply digital etiquette standards
- Seek opportunities to increase your digital competence
- Information Management
- Determine digital information needs and requirements
- Determine the veracity of an individual search result or digital artifact
- Manage online data collection, storage, and retrieval
- Content Creation
- Create and edit digital content
- Manage digital information and files
- Responsibly repurpose digital resources
- Publish or present content for a specific audience
- Communication
- Interact with others in a digital environment
- Understand Internet commerce basics
- Collaboration
- Use digital tools and technologies to collaborate on the creation of content
- Apply digital etiquette standards for collaborative processes
- Safety and Security
- Avoid health risks and physical harm while using digital technologies
- Avoid mental health threats while using digital technologies
- Understand device security
- Understand file security
Level 3
- Technology Basics
- Evaluate software and hardware devices
- Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve technical problems with assistance
- Understand selected software concepts
- Digital Citizenship
- Understand how to protect others’ personally identifiable information
- Explain best practices for digital citizenship
- Information Management
- Construct an effective information search
- Evaluate digital information sources and multiple search results
- Content Creation
- Create, edit, and publish or present original digital media content
- Represent data visually
- Manage digital information and files
- Be aware of challenges and solutions for accessibility
- Apply intellectual property standards
- Plan and manage a cyclical design process for digital projects
- Communication
- Manage interpersonal digital communications
- Communicate with others to identify and understand issues
- Collaboration
- Collaborate with others to resolve issues
- Contribute constructively to project teams
- Safety and Security
- Manage device security
- Be aware of the physical and environmental impact of digital tools and technologies
What are the benefits of certifying?
In a world where competition for jobs, pay increases, and academic success continues to increase, certifications offer hope because they are a credible, third-party assessment of one’s skill and knowledge for a given subject.
With IC3 Digital Literacy certification, students can validate their knowledge of technology basics, digital citizenship, information management, and content creation. Certified digital literacy skills also prepares students for more advanced digital certifications, including Microsoft Office Specialist, Microsoft Certified Fundamentals, and Information Technology Specialist.
What are the prerequisites to certifying?
There are no specific exam prerequisites for the IC3 Digital Literacy certification. However, each certification exam covers at least 150 hours of course instruction.
Is there courseware available for IC3 Digital Literacy certification?
Preparing your students for certification is a big responsibility, so we try to make your job easier and more effective with specially selected course materials and practice tests. You can see all of the IC3 Digital Literacy certification curriculum options here.
Are there practice tests available for IC3 Digital Literacy certification?
Yes. Certiport offers CertPREP for practice tests that will prepare students for their IC3 Digital Literacy certification exam. You can get more details about practice tests here.
Interested in learning more about IC3 Digital Literacy certification? Connect with a Certiport Representative here.